The UK pig industry has traditionally used a Large White terminal sire over a Large White × Landrace dam but more recently, there has been increased use of three way crosses with Hampshire or Pietrain boars as the terminal sire.

The attraction of these breeds initially arose because certain sire lines have been associated with increased piglet vigour, improved response to weaning, faster growth rates and lower mortality in all phases; this could suggest that offspring are less susceptible to Post-Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS).

A large-scale study conducted by the Pig Development Centre now provides an independent comparison of the performance of piglets from each of the three breed crosses on the same commercially based research farm and an impartial assessment of the major intrinsic differences between modern sire breeds for the use of British farmers.

Each of the following areas was studied, providing information that can be used in determining appropriate breeding strategies.

Pre-Weaning Performance

For this part of the study, results were obtained for a total of 425 crossbred litters (140 Hampshire type, 145 Large White and 140 Pietrain type).

• There were few differences between piglets from different sire lines.
• Sire breed did not affect the number of piglets born per litter, nor the numbers of stillbirths or mummified foetuses.

• Piglets of all crosses had similar birth and weaning weights.

• Three breed crosses had higher survival rates during the first 24 hours of life, however, subsequently, there were no significant differences in survival between breeds.

Weaner Performance

For this part of the study, results were obtained for a total of 708 piglets (234 Hampshire type, 240 Large White type and 234 Pietrain type).

• Genotype did not affect piglet growth rate in the first two weeks of the experiment or over the whole 20-day trial period
• However, by the third week, Hampshire-type and Large White-type piglets were growing more rapidly than Pietrain-type piglets

• Feed intakes were similar between genotypes throughout but Pietrain types had better feed conversion.

• There was no difference between genotypes in the numbers of pigs that were recorded as sick, scouring or lame during the trial.
• There were no differences in lysine requirement between breeds.

Grower Performance

For this part of the study results were obtained for a total of 894 pigs (306 Hampshire type, 268 Large White type and 320 Pietrain type).

• Hampshire type pigs grew more rapidly than either of the other two crosses due to greater feed intake

• Although Large White type pigs had the lowest feed intake and growth rate, they had the best feed efficiency.

The three breed crosses were more robust.

• There were no differences in lysine requirement between breeds, with all three genotypes responding similarly to changing lysine concentration.
• Optimum performance was achieved at lysine concentrations above 1.07g digestible lysine per megajoule (MJ) net energy (NE).

Finisher Performance

For this part of the study, results were obtained for a total of 990 pigs (320 Hampshire type, 340 Large White type, 330 Pietrain type).

• Large White type pigs had the lowest feed intake but best feed efficiency.

• The Pietrain and Hampshire type pigs were more robust than the Large White type pigs with half as many pigs having to be removed from the trial.

• There were no differences in lysine requirement between breeds, with all three genotypes responding similarly to changing lysine concentration
• Optimum performance was achieved at lysine concentrations of 0.86g digestible lysine per MJ NE and above

Carcass Composition and Meat Quality

For this part of the study, results were obtained for a total of 1595 pigs (593 Hampshire type, 483 Large White type and 519 Pietrain type).

• Large White type pigs were leanest as assessed by MLC backfat measurement
• Pietrain type pigs produced the heaviest carcasses and the greatest yield when assessed on the basis of lean meat yield.

• Although the Hampshire type pigs had the highest daily liveweight gain (P<0.001), in terms of the rate of gain of lean meat (the edible part of the carcase) there was very little difference between the three crossbreeds, however the Pietrain type pigs had the fastest gain and the Large White types the slowest (P=0.019)
• The muscle from the Pietrain type pigs showed no sign of pale soft exudative (PSE) meat.
• Pietrain type pigs had significantly thicker ‘eye’ muscles than the Hampshire type pigs
• The Hampshire type pigs produced the most tender meat (griddled loin steaks) but there were no other significant differences on eating quality between the three crossbreeds.

Summary

Based on each part of this study, the following characteristics can be attributed to the three breed crosses:

Hampshire types

• Rapid growth
• High feed intake
• Reduced days to slaughter – particularly suitable for attaining higher slaughter weights
• Robust
• Tender meat

Large White types

• Moderate growth
• Low feed intake
• Good carcass composition – particularly for conventional payment method
• Good feed conversion ratio on daily basis

Pietrain types

• Moderate growth
• High feed intake
• Robust
• Good carcass composition
• High lean meat yield, especially prime cuts – particularly suitable for outlets interested in better yield or using the autofom

BPEX says that the results from this study can be used to help assess the economic significance of each factor in terms of each producer's own system.

The BPEX Feeding Herd Calculator will allow you to estimate the effects of feed costs and other costs, slaughter weight and sale value on net margins. It will also allow you to change the FCR to match your system.

The BPEX Breeding Herd Calculator allows you to estimate the effects of changes in sow productivity, feed and other costs on the net margin per weaner pig sold on for growing and finishing.

The information from this research should not be used as the sole basis for determining your breeding strategy but in conjunction with discussions with your nutritionist, marketing company and breeding company, advises BPEX.

Further Reading

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Find out more information on Post-Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) by clicking here.